Ex-mayor gets 11 months for physical injuries

Cebu - Former Sta. Fe Mayor Roger Ilustrisimo was convicted yesterday by the Sandiganbayan and was sentenced to 11 months in prison after he was found guilty of hitting a day care worker more than four years ago.

Ilustrisimo, now a town councilor of Sta. Fe, was found guilty by the fourth division of the Sandiganbayan of hitting day care worker Catalino Veliganilao during a benefit dance on July 28, 2004 at Sta. Fe Heights.

In a 27 page decision penned by Associate Justice Gregory Ong, Ilustrisimo was meted with four months and 20 days to 11 months and 20 days imprisonment.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed Veliganilao in 2004 accusing the former mayor of serious physical injuries.

Veliganilao, who died of natural causes last year while waiting for the decision, alleged that as a day care worker, he organized a Prince and Princess of Nutrition Contest and a benefit dance.

The activity was held in the evening of July 28, 2004 until Ilustrisimo allegedly arrived at about midnight to interrupt the benefit dance.

Ilustrisimo was allegedly asking for the permit but when the victim showed to him the permit, the mayor suddenly hit him with a gun on his left face and left riding an ambulance.

Veliganilao alleged that as a result of the incident, he lost three of his upper teeth.

But Ilustrisimo denied the accusation, claiming that there was a commotion which could have caused injuries to Veliganilao. He likewise denied wielding his gun.

But the court ruled that Ilustrisimo failed to exercise his power as mayor to arrest of the people responsible for the commotion. The court also noted that there was even no police report about it.

The court was convinced that Ilustrisimo is guilty of the crime because of the antecedent events that could have triggered his anger.

Based on the testimonies of the witnesses, Ilustrisimo got angry because of the drunk people blocking his way while he passed through the benefit dance on the way to the hospital to bring his wife.

After bringing his wife to the hospital, Ilustrisimo allegedly returned to the benefit dance to confront the organizers.

Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca Santiago said she was informed that Ilustrisimo immediately filed a motion for reconsideration after receiving a copy of the decision that was promulgated yesterday morning. — Fred P. Languido/LPM (THE FREEMAN)